This crowd-pleasing celebrity charity event changes venues this year and will serve as the kick-off for the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show which follows on September 21-22.The 2019 Real Rider Cup participants will include a number of racing industry personalities – jockeys, members of the media, “Racing Kids” who’ve grown up in the sport, sidesaddle riders and representatives from world-class breeding farms. Teams will compete against each other over a course of show jumping fences to determine the “real riders.” Each competitor has pledged to raise at least $1,000, which will directly support our beneficiaries – the Retired Racehorse Project and New Vocations.

Jocelyn Brooks is Chief of Staff for Sagamore Racing. Brooks is based at Sagamore Farm, located in Glyndon, Md., which is currently owned by Under Armour CEO and founder Kevin Plank and previously Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. She has a variety of responsibilities including corporate communications, hospitality, horse roster management, breeding program administration, social media and general support to Sagamore President, Hunter Rankin and the team at Sagamore Farm.

Jocelyn is also responsible for Sagamore Racing’s Next Move program, which retrains retired Sagamore athletes into other careers such as dressage, hunters/jumpers, eventing and even therapy work. Jocelyn works to find great homes for our retirees and oversees the retiree roster and their re-training progress with trainer Nuno Santos. Sagamore has successfully rehomed many horses and Jocelyn remains in touch with our horses and their families for updates on their new adventures and accomplishments. Jocelyn grew up in Towson, Maryland and began riding at the age of 9. Perpetual Optimism entered the Next Move program in 2016 and was a star from the beginning, Jocelyn officially purchased “PO” in 2017. He has been competing with Nuno in recognized Novice and Training events this year, and some smaller events with Jocelyn aboard. Perpetual Optimism competed in the inaugural Real Rider Cup in 2017 with Nuno aboard. Learn More about Team Farm Managers here!

Perpetual Optimism, Bay Gelding, Foaled April 17, 2012 in Kentucky. Raced for Sagamore five times, placing in three of his starts before retiring with an injury.